The R&B group “Boys II Men” (L-R): Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman and Nathan Morris, poses with Princess Tiana Oct. 26, 2009 at the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Princess Tiana, featured in the Walt Disney Pictures animated film “The Princess and the Frog,” also made her debut at the theme park the same day. (Garth Vaughan, photographer)

Playhouse Disney will usher in the holiday season with new themed episodes of “Special Agent Oso,” “Imagination Movers” and “Jungle Junction,” beginning SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5 (8:00–11:00 a.m. ET/PT) on Disney Channel. The month-long programming event includes the television premiere of “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Adventures in Wonderland.”

New episodes include:

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5

“Special Agent Oso” (8:00 a.m. ET/PT) – In “For Your Ice Only/Coldfingers,” Special Agent Oso puts his Keeping Your Balance Training Exercise on hold and glides in to help Carina learn to ice skate in time for a friend’s birthday party, and then helps some friends learn how to make a snowman.

Burbank, CA (Monday, October 26, 2009) – For the first time on television, ABC Family will air a two-hour presentation of Walt Disney Pictures Presents “Pixar Short Films,” featuring twenty animated Pixar shorts, as part of the network’s annual 25 Days of Christmas programming event (December 1-25). The critically-acclaimed short films include the Academy Award®-winning (Best Animated Short Film) “Geri’s Game,” “For the Birds,” “Tin Toy” and the Academy Award®-nominated (Best Animated Short Film) “Luxo Jr.,” “Mike’s New Car,” “One Man Band,” “Lifted” and “Presto.” “Pixar Short Films” premieres on ABC Family on Wednesday, December 2 from 7:00-9:00PM ET/PT (and again from 9:00PM-11:00PM ET/PT). Two encore presentations will air on the network on Friday, December 18 at 10:00PM ET/PT and Saturday, December 19 at 6:00PM ET/PT.

Walt Disney Studios and ImageMovers Digital has just supplied us with the following stills from their upcoming release of A Christmas Carol starring Jim Carrey. The new images focus mostly on the encounters Scrooge has with the Ghosts of Christmas Past and Present as well as his remarkable transformation after their visits.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Oct. 26 — The 2010 schedule for Disney Institute open enrollment programs is now available at www.disneyinstitute.com. Located under the Web site’s “Events” tab, the extended calendar offers increased flexibility for professionals who want to book training through the end of the coming year.

Open-enrollment programs include three- and five-day programs available at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and a series of one-day programs offered at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif. One- and three-day programs are dedicated to specific topics such as quality service, leadership excellence, people management, brand loyalty, and inspiring creativity. The five-day programs dedicate a day to each of the five core Disney Institute curricula.

Besides meet-and-greets with guests, Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen and other characters from the motion picture will star in “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee!,” a rousing, colorful procession with a jazz-filled Mardi Gras theme. The good times will roll as festively dressed, bead-tossing revelers lead Magic Kingdom guests to the Liberty Belle Riverboat dock.

The party moves onboard and the Liberty Belle paddlewheels her way along the river with singing and dancing to the sounds of a six-member jazz band. Nearly two dozen Disney dancers join 30 randomly chosen park guests to be part of each show. Original songs composed by Randy Newman for the film liven the production, which will be performed three times daily. Daytime pyrotechnics and whimsical puppetry round out the spirited, 15-minute production.

The 10-week experience at Walt Disney World Resort will run through Jan. 3, 2010. “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee!” also will dazzle guests at Disneyland Park in California, beginning Nov. 6.

A hilarious movie adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana, “The Princess and the Frog” will open in limited release in New York and Los Angeles on Nov. 25, 2009, before expanding nationwide on Dec. 11, 2009.

BURBANK, Calif., Oct. 26 — Adventures by Disney announced an exciting new offer designed to help parents and children spend more quality time with each other through family vacations. Consumers purchasing select Adventures by Disney vacations between October 26, 2009 and January 15, 2010 will receive a free three-night Disney Cruise to the Bahamas (www.AdventuresbyDisney.com/freecruise).

Realizing vacations are the perfect time to bond as a family, Adventures by Disney developed a unique offer allowing parents and children to embark on two great Disney vacations, providing another opportunity to spend quality time together. Guests traveling to some of Adventures by Disney’s most popular destinations, ranging from Europe, China, Australia, Costa Rica and the American Southwest will receive a second vacation – a three-night Disney Cruise to the Bahamas – free*. Families have the opportunity to book the cruise through 2011.

Just as Disney Cruise Line revolutionized – and in some ways defined – the family cruise vacation, Adventures by Disney is recreating the way families think about vacationing together. Adventures by Disney invites travelers to experience the world with guided group vacations created especially for families. Guests meet local experts, receive VIP treatment, enjoy exclusive experiences and discover incredible adventures – including special thrills just for kids.

In a step to help provide environmental awareness (and perhaps a tad of promotion), the United Nations named Tinker Bell the ‘Honorary Ambassador of Green’ early Sunday.

‘We’re delighted Tinker Bell has agreed to be our Honorary Ambassador of Green,’ said Kiyo Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information. ‘This beloved animated character can help us inspire kids and their parents to nurture nature and do what they can to take care of the environment.’

Earlier this week, Campbell/Gambill Designs released the iPhone/iPod Touch edition of Steven Barrett’s popular Hidden Mickeys guide. Providing the same scavenger hunt-type lists of Hidden Mickeys throughout the Walt Disney World as the book does, the app also takes advantage of the iPhone by incorporating the use of GPS. Currently the app boasts over 800 Hidden Mickeys across the four main theme parks.

Authors Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson will be offering a signing of their new book Peter and the Sword of Mercy at Walt Disney World on Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14.

On November 13, they’ll be at Once Upon a Toy located at Downtown Disney’s Marketplace from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm; on November 14, they’ll be in the Magic Kingdom at the Main Street Gallery on Main Street, USA from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm. There will also be an early appearance on Saturday by Ridley Pearson only from 9 am – 10 am at the Main Street Gallery.